Brake-beam.



W. P. BETTENDORP.

BRAKE BEAM.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 9, 190a.

Patented Mar.1,1910.

I WTLLIAM P. BETTENDORF, OF DAVENPORT, IOWA.

BRAKE-BEAM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 1, 1910.

Application filed November 9, 1908. Serial No. 461,718.

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, \VILLIAM P. BETTEN- DORF, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Davenport, in the county of Scott and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements ,in Brake- Beams, of which the following is a clear, full, and exact description. My invention relates to brake-beams and its object is to construct a truss-shaped frame which will combine economy of construction with the essential elements of strength, durability and light weight. This I'accomplish by the means hereinafter fully described and as particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings ;Figure 1 is a plan View of my improved brake-beam. Fig. 2 1s a longitudinal edge View of the same. Fig. 3 is an end View thereof. Fig. l is a section of the kingpost or central spreader casting, taken on dotted line l, t, Fig. 1, and showing a fragmentary portion of the tension member of the brake-beam, and together therewith drawn to a larger scale.

The accompanying drawings show a brake-beam made of a single I-bcam of a length, which, before it has been worked into' the desired shape, is slightly longer than the-length a standard M. C. l3. brake beam should hen-The web of this I-beam is provided, midway its liangcs, with a longi- 'tudinal slit a, the ends of which terminate preferably, inpunched openings Z, located at a suitable distance back from each end of the beam, and said brakebeam is then made into a truss-shape by pressing its ends toward each other, or, better stillby grasping the flanges midway the length of the beam and pulling the said flanges and the portion of theweb integral therewith away from each other sufficiently to form the tension meniberB, and the compression member A of a truss. The ends C of this truss, be-

,tweenQthe terminal oi 'aenings 7) and the extremities of the bcant alinc with each other and remain as originally rolled, except that the end portion of the tlanges constituting a continuation of the flanges of the compression member of the beam is cut away at c, c. The ends a, c, of said flanges are cut away to enable the fastening lugs (Z, of the brakeshoe holder D to slip over the same. There are two of these fastening-lugs (Z projecting to the rear from the central portion of said holder and the space between them corresponds to the transverse contours of the reduced flanges c and a part of the web of the beam, to which. as shown, they aresecured by rivets or other means. When the holders D are placed over the ends of the brakebeam they are moved until they bear againstthe shoulders caused by cutting away said flanges and thustheir exact position, when the beam is assembled, is assured. These brake-shoe holders, are, in every other respect substantially the same as those now in extensive use; that is to say they are sub stantially crescent shaped, having their forward vertical surface so recessed or depressed transversely -as to leave lugs between -which the fastening lugs of the brake shoe extend and are secured by the usual bolt or pin. w

At the center of length of the brake-beam, a' king-post E is interposed between the compression and tension members, A and B. This king-post consists preferably of a cast metal column of'substantially I-beam shape in cross-section the ends of whichare slit. longitudinally and flattened to form endplates 0, c, which pass on either side of the web of the adjacent portion of the compression and tens on members of the beam and are secured thereto by rivets or otherwise, and midway between said rivets, said posts are provided on each side of the beam with transtersely disposed flanges 7', f, that extend the entire length of the post and termii' ate in feet that bear against the inner surfaces of the flanges of the beam at their centers of length where they are separated farthest apart. Between the separated webs of the compression and tension members the body of the king-post consists of two corresponding lat parallel walls 9 which are disposed obliquely, or, at an angle of about forty-five degrees to the plane of the web of the brake-beam. The usual lever not shown) which is employed to operate the brake-beam is placed between these walls, and piloted by a suitable bolt (not shown) the ends of which are journaled or secured in bearings 71 It, made in the center of length of said walls.

Near each end of the brake-beam and between the holders D and the terminals of the separated portions of the same, I have provided guard-pins G, which project in,

went the longitudinal displacement of thowise and brake-beam by engaging the inside surface of the flan es of the car-wheels (not shown) in the usua manner. These nerd-pins consist of short sections of steel-bars, one F end of which is bent toward the web of the brake-beam and flattenedand secured to said web by a rivet or bolt, 1, and the other end of which extends straight forward, out through openings H in the flan e of the beam. This manner of securing the guard pins iii place, permits them to be readily replaced when in need of repairs or broken.

I do not wish to be confinedfto the exact construction of brake-shoe holder or the king-post, although I prefer to make them as shown and describe v What I claim as new is 1. A brake-beam comprising a single flanged beam, the web of which between its ends is slit longitudinally and the portions thereof on each side of said slit moved a suitable distance from the plane of said slit, and .a king-post of substantially I-beam shape whose ends are -secured to said sep arated portions of said beam, and which has bearings therein for the pivot of the operating lever of the brake-beam. 2. A brake-beam comprising a singl flanged beam, the web ofwhich between its ends is slit longitudinally and the portions thereof on each side of said slit moved a 3. A brake-beam comprising a single flanged beam, the web of which. between its ends is slit longitudinally and the portions thereof on each side of said slit moved a suitable distance from the plane of said slit, and a king-post of substantially I-beam shape whose-ends are secured to said separated portions of said beam, which has" bearings therein for the ivot of the operating lever of the brakecam and is provided with a longitudinal flange the ends of which butt against the longitudinal flanges of thebrake-beam.

4. A brake-beam comprising a single flanged beam, the web of which between 1ts ends is slit longitudinally and the portions thereof on each side of said slit moved a suitable distance from the plane of said slit, and a king-post whose ends are s lit lengthrovide cheek-plates t at are 'secured to t e web of said se arated portions of said beam, which has earings therein for the pivot of the operating lever of the brake-beam and is provided with a longitudinal flan e the ends of which butt a ainst the longitu inal flanges'of the brakecum. '5. A brake-beam comprising a single of which are recessed to reduce their widths,

and brake-shoe holders havingv fastening lugs adapted to be slipped longitudinally over said reduced ends and suitably secured thereto.

6. A brake-beam comprising a single flanged beam the. ends of one of the flanges being reduced in width, and near said reduced ends provided with openings therethrough, brake-shoe holders secured to said reduced ends and guard-pins one end of each of which'is bent toward and secured .to the web of the brake beam and having their shafts tended through said openings.

7. A. brake-beam comprising a single flanged beam the web of which between its ends is slit longitudinall and the separated portions moved a suitab e distance from the plane of said slit and the ends of one of the flanges of which are reduced in width, a king-post. inter osed between and whose cndsvare secure to said separated portions ofthe beam, and brake-shoes adapted to be placed upon and secured to said reduced end portions of said flange.

8. A brake-beam comprising a single flanged beam the web of which between its ends is slit longitudinally and the separated portions moved a suitable distance from the plane of said slit and the endsof one or the flanges of which are reduced in width, :1 king-post interposed between and' whose ends are split longitudinally and secured to the webs of said separated portions of the beam, and brake-shoes adapted to be placed upon and secured to said reduced end portions of said flange,

9. A brake-beam com'prisin a single flanged beam the web of which diet-ween 1ts portions move a suitabledistance from the plane of said slit and the flange of which nearest the car-wheels hayin openings therein, a king-post of substantially I-beam shape inter )osed between and having its ends secure to said separated portions and guard-pins one end of each of which is bent toward and secured to the web of the brake beam and have their shafts extending through said openings.

10. A brake-beam comprisin a single flanged beam the web of which between its ends is slit longitudinally and the separated portions moved a suitable distance from the plane of said slit, the ends of the flange of one ed e ofcwhich are reduced in width, and are, a jacent to said reduced portions, provided with openings, a kin -post interposed between and having its en s secured to said separated portions, brake beam holders placed upon and secured to the reduced ends of the beam, and guard ins one end of each of which is bent tower and secured to the web of the beam and the shafts. of which ends is slit lon itudinallvand the separated extend through the openings in the flange thereof.-

11. A brake-beam comprising a single I-beam, the web of which between its ends midway between its flan es is slit longitudinally and the portions tiereof on each side of said slit moved a suitable distance from the plane ofsaid slit, and a king-post of substantially I-beam shape whose ends are secured to said separated portions of said beam, and which has bearings therein for the pivot of the operating'lever of the brakebeani.

12. A brake-beam comprisin asingle flanged beam the web of which %)etween. its ends is slit longitudinallyand the separated portions nieved a suitable distance from the plane of sai dslit and the ends of one of the flanges of which are reduced in width, a king-post interposed between and whose ends are secured to said separated portions of the beam and is provided with longitudinal flanges the. ends of which butt against the longitudinal flanges thereof and brake shoes adapted to be laced uponand secured to said reduced en portions of said flange.

13. A brake-beam comprising a single flanged beam, the web of which between its ends is slit longitudinally and the separated portions moved a suitable distance from the plane of said slit and the flange of which; nearest the car-wheels having openings therein, a king-post interposed between and having its ends split longitudinally and secured to the webs of said separated portions, and guardins one end of each of which is bent. towar and secured to the web of the brake-beam and have their shafts extending through said openings.

14. A brake-beam comprising asingle flanged beam, the web of which between its ends is slit longitudinally and the separated portions moved a suitable distance from the plane of said slit and the flange of which nearest the car-wheels having openings therein, a king-post interposed between and having its ends secured to said separated 'portions, and having longitudinal flanges the ends of which butt against the flanges of said separated portions, and guard pins one end of each of which is bent toward and secured to the web of the brake beam and have their shafts extending through said openings.

In testimony whereof I have hereuntoset my hand and seal this 27th day of October, A. D., 1908.

' WILLIAM F. BETTENDORF. [1 8.] Witnesses:

"HENRY BELLmoHAUsnN,

JOHN *H. PLOEHN. 

